Maternal mortality and its risk factors in Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Authors

  • Edwina M Kolleh Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha City, Hunan Province, P.R of China.
  • Prince L Bestman China-Africa Research Center of Infectious Diseases, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410078, Hunan, China
  • Ousman Bajinka Department of Medical Microbiology, Central South University Changsha, Hunan, China
  • Sonkarlay JY Weamie College of Information Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Hunan Provinces, China
  • Jiayou Luo Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha City, Hunan Province, P.R of China.

Keywords:

Africa; Maternal mortality, Reproductive age women, Risk factors

Abstract

Background: Maternal mortality is a significant global health problem, which affects women
of reproductive age. Maternal mortality is especially high in Africa, where more women die
during pregnancy and childbirths from preventable causes. This review therefore aim to assess
maternal mortality ratio and identify its risk factors.

Methods: PubMed, Web of science, Embase, and Medline were searched for cohort, casecotrol
and cross-sectonal studies published between 2008 and 2021that assessed maternal
mortality or its risk risk in Africa, or among African women. The preferred reporting items
for a systematic review and meta-analysis was carefully considered while conducting this
review. Random effect model was used to generate pooled estimates. Data were analyzed
using StataCorp version 16.0 statistical software.

Results: A total of 1,657 articles were retrieved from searching four electronic databases.
The sum of 1,639 records were excluded and a total of 18 studies were included into the
the systematic review and meta-analysis. Using a random effect approach, this systematic
review and meta-analysis estimated the MMR of 496/100,000 for Africa. Further, maternal
age ≥ 35 years [OR = 2.50; 95% CI: (1.50, 4.15)], no formal education/illiterate mother [OR
= 2.30; 95% CI: (1.50, 3.52)], no history of ANC attendance [OR = 2.42; 95% CI: (0.43,
13.50)], pregnancy complication/previous pregnancy-related illness [OR = 4.47; 95% CI:
(3.03, 6.60)], delayed in seeking health care [OR = 5.12; 95% CI: (3.14, 8.34)], mother being
referred [OR= 5.60; 95% CI: (4.16, 7.54)], and husband's education (illiterate/primary) [OR =
1.32; 95% CI: (0.69, 2.53)] were identified as risk factors of maternal mortality.

Conclusion: A high MMR of 496/100,000 live birth for Africa was estimate in this review.
Also, several risk factors of maternal mortality were identified. Healthcare professionals are
therefore reminded to regularly educate mothers about the risk and benefits of seeking early
prenatal healthcare.

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Published

2021-11-17

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 1

Section

Articles